Want to know the simple secret to true health, to a life of fulfillment and joy?⁣

Respect and care for the vehicle through which you experience it.⁣
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Taking care of yourself goes far beyond just counting calories and working out in the gym every day. We so often judge health by looks, when in reality someone can look fit on the outside and still be unhealthy on a cellular level. ⁣

It doesn’t matter what fitness level you are at right now, it only matters how much you are willing to put into transforming your beliefs and mindset.
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True health is the result of consistent physical AND mental habits that create happy cells. ⁣It’s a mindset that allows you to open your eyes in the morning with passion, purpose and excitement. You are one decision away from making major changes in your life, your mindset, and how you show up for yourself every day. ⁣

Most people have no idea how GOOD their body is designed to feel or the things it’s capable of. ⁣
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Instead of trying to improve how you feel by only working towards external goals, shift your focus to internal goals. True health starts with YOU. The way you talk to yourself. The way you care for yourself. The way you are choosing to fuel your body. The boundaries you set. ⁣
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YOU are in control of your own life. Start taking responsibility for your decisions and your behaviors, and decide today to start showing up for yourself. ⁣

A morning bliss practice or ritual will help you start your day from a place of inner peace and power.
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Morning rituals are used by some of the most successful people in the world to create an inner environment of strength and stamina, and studies have shown that certain morning routines and habits can set you up for a successful, productive day. ⁣
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Think of your routine as your sacred, personal time. it’s a powerful way to prime your mind, body and soul so you can master your day.
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Remember these three “M’s” when designing your morning bliss.Read More…

The entire universe is made of energy, and your body is no exception. Balancing your chakras can help you live a healthy and harmonious life. Blocked energy in our seven chakras can lead to illness, so it’s important to understand what each chakra represents and what we can do to keep energy flowing freely.

Root Chakra is located at the base of the spine in the tailbone area. This chakra’s role is to connect all of your energy with the earth. It is your grounding chakra.When in balance: You will feel a sense of accomplishment and peace when you think of things like money, safety, and shelter.When out of balance: You may experience anxiety and jitteriness.Bring into balance: Connect to the earth.

Meditation is an approach to training your mind that can bring peace and fulfillment to all aspects of your life. Many people don’t know what they should be thinking about when meditating—a common myth is that meditation is all about stopping your thoughts, when it’s actually about learning to step back and observe them. It can be difficult for beginners to sit for an extended amount of time with an “empty mind,” so here are some tips to starting your own mediation practice and how it can benefit your life.

Tips to Starting Your Own Meditation Practice

Start with a guided meditation. Headspace and Insight Timer are both excellent apps with a variety of guided meditations and calming music.

Try meditating for 5-10 minutes a day, and then increase the amount of time slowly but consistently. Example: Increase 2 minutes a day or increase 5 minutes a week.

Find a comfortable seated position where you feel supported and relaxed.

Breathe naturally but focus on each inhale and exhale.

Set an intention for your meditation, whether it’s simply clearing your mind or using a guided meditation on attracting abundance or finding inner peace.

There is no right or wrong time of day to meditate. Don’t worry if you miss your meditation in the morning—just try to fit it in at another time throughout the day, maybe on your lunch break or before bed.

Put your phone in another room, or set it on silent if you’re using a meditation app.

Benefits of Mediation

Less anxiety and stress: Meditation provides an overall better feeling of well-being and connection to yourself and the world.

Better focus: Meditation can help you stay on task longer, switch between tasks less frequently and enjoy your tasks more.

Deeper relaxation and sleep: Guided meditations use sound and visualization to create an atmosphere for healthy, restful sleep.

Remember, life is short. We can live it lost in thought, or we can choose to be present as life unfolds around us.

We are in the midst of high season in Manuel Antonio and as the temperatures rise, so does the nightlife. You can find something fun to do every night of the week in our lively town of Manuel Antonio, whether it be salsa dancing, karaoke, live music, or a wine and painting class.

Bar Jolly Roger has live music almost every night of the week along with other entertainment and events. On Monday nights, they host a Ladies Night with free drinks for the ladies from 8-11pm. Tuesday nights are Karaoke Night which always fills up the bar with a lew. Catch the Classy Pirates, Ixneloa, Somos Latinos, and Benjammin and The Howlers on the weekends for live music. Bar Jolly Roger has a pool tables, giant jenga, and a casino – so there’s something for everyone to get into!

Selina is one of the main hot spots on the weekends if you are looking for reggaeton and hip hop, a dance floor, and a mix of travellers and locals. During the weekdays Selina offers nightly events such as salsa dance lessons on Monday nights, wine and painting night on Tuesdays, karaoke night on Thursdays, and DJs or live music every other night of the week!

Marina Pez Vela is the perfect place to take the kids to see the boats and get dinner, catch the sunset during happy hour, or go out for drinks on the weekend.

Karma is a popular gay club. They have salsa lessons, live DJs on the weekends, and throw fun, themed events.

MoGamBo Bar is another popular LGBT, straight friendly bar and is especially well-known for its amazing view. MoGamBo Bar has Latin dancing on Wednesday nights, karaoke on Thursday nights, and music video request night on Fridays.

The lush and magical jungle of Uvita is hosting Envision Festival 2019 for its 9th year. We all know Envision as a four-day music festival, but did you know that it’s also a celebration dedicated to Movement, Art, Bio-construction, Health, Community, Permaculture, and Spirituality?

Envision aims to awaken each human’s higher self and full potential. It differs from other music festivals because it takes the experience deeper, beyond the music. The festival offers a healing sanctuary, yoga and other movement workshops, plant medicine workshops, retreats, tours, and excursions.

If you’re here at Envision this year, you’re sure to have experienced change, adventure, healing, and new friendships through yoga, self-love, meditation, dancing, chanting, and learning.

And when it’s all over, how do we re-enter the world outside the festival? How does your body and mind recover from such a spiritually and physically exhaustive weekend? Luckily, we’ve got you covered.

Yoga is for everybody—but it can be intimidating if you’re a beginner. As we often say in class, “the hardest part is showing up to your mat.” Even if you’re already fit and healthy, there are so many benefits to yoga, including stress management, mood enhancement, better sleep, and increased flexibility, strength and balance.

The best way to learn yoga is by doing it. If you’re preparing to take your first class, here are some tips to take into consideration before your first flow.

Begin Where You Are

Research the studio and class type. Look into the studio and read up on their philosophy, teacher backgrounds and the class types they offer. As a beginner, you may want to start with a non-heated class and look for a hatha or vinyasa style class.

Try a beginner yoga video at home. There are countless online resources for yoga now—just search “beginner yoga flow” on YouTube and follow along from home.* Knowing the basic poses will help you to feel more confident going into your first class.

Touch base with the instructor. If you let the instructor know before class that you’re new to yoga, they will be aware to offer additional cuing and hands-on adjustments for poses as needed. It’s also important to let your instructor know if you have any injuries or are pregnant, and how you feel about receiving hands-on corrections.

Did you know only 20 percent of the world’s population wears shoes? There are actually many benefits to walking barefoot that you may not realize. When our bare skin comes in direct contact with the earth, the ions in the earth help balance the ions in our bodies and can provide many benefits to our health.

1 Releases toxins

There are reflex points in our feet that directly affect our organs and bones. Walking on the bumps and rocks on the ground help to stimulate these reflex points in your feet. It may hurt at first, but this means your feet need the stimulation they are receiving. The pressure on your foot acts as acupuncture which can improve your energy.

2 Strengthens and stretches muscles

Walking barefoot strengthens and stretches the muscles and tendons in your feet, ankles and calves which helps prevent injury and strain. It also works different muscles than when you’re wearing shoes and can help improve your posture and balance.

3 Boosts your mood

Spending time with Mother Nature is proven to improve your mood and mental state. These benefits are boosted when your body comes in direct contact with the earth beneath you.
Immersing yourself in nature and receiving the higher frequencies it emits increases your own energy levels.

Your health is always worth investing in – it’s true as they say, ‘health is wealth.’ However, you don’t need to be wealthy to be healthy. Here are some tips for maintaining a healthy lifestyle while on a budget.

Meal Plan

Before grocery shopping, take the time to plan out the majority of your meals for the week. Think about how to incorporate protein, greens, carbs and a healthy source of fat (such as avocado, coconut, nuts) in each meal. Then, build your grocery list with the ingredients needed to make those meals, so that you only buy what you need for the week. This will make your grocery runs go further, last longer and overall be more cost efficient.

Buy whole foods

Avoid the aisles of processed food in the grocery store, and instead shop the perimeter of the store where proteins and produce can be found. If you buy mostly proteins, vegetables and fruits, then that’s what you’ll reach for to eat when you are hungry or cooking a meal at home. Try to make an effort to go to La Feria on the weekends to buy your produce – it’s always cheaper than the grocery store, and you’re supporting local farmers. Tip: Avoid letting overripe fruits or vegetables go to waste by using them in a smoothie instead.

Get a workout when & where you can

Consider trying home workouts instead of spending money on a gym membership or group workout classes. You can find any type of workout imaginable on YouTube that you can do from the comfort of your own home. Not to mention, we live in Costa Rica so why not take advantage of the beauty that surrounds us and find a way to get a workout in outside. This could be hiking to a waterfall, walking instead of driving, a run on the beach, swimming in the ocean or a pool – the possibilities are limitless right here in your backyard if you just get creative.